In the Year 1700, when People flock'd from all Parts of the Christian World,
to see the Solemnity of the Grand Jubilee at Rome, my Intention, at
that Time, being to travel, I accidentally met with a Gentleman, who had
been Abroad, and was very well acquainted with the Ways of Living in both
Indies; of whom, having made Enquiry concerning them, he assur'd me,
that Carolina was the best Country I could go to; and, that there
then lay a Ship in the Thames, in which I might have my Passage. I
laid hold on this Opportunity, and was not long on Board, before we fell
down the River, and sail'd to Cowes; where, having taken in some
Passengers, we proceeded on our Voyage, 'till we sprung a-leak, and were
forc'd into the Islands of Scilly. Here we spent about 10 Days in
refitting; in which Time we had a great deal of Diversion in Fishing and
Shooting on those rocky Islands. The Inhabitants were very courteous and
civil, especially the Governor, to whose good Company and Favour, we were
very much oblig'd. There is a Town on one of these Islands, where is good
Entertainment for those that happen to come in, though the Land is but mean,
and Flesh-meat not Plenty. They have good Store of Rabbits, Quails and Fish;
and you see at the poor Peoples Doors great Heaps of Periwinkle-shells,
those Fish being a great Part of their Food. On the 1st Day of May,
having a fair Wind at East, we put to Sea, and were on the Ocean
(without speaking to any Vessel, except a Ketch bound from New England
to Barbadoes, laden with Horses, Fish, and Provisions) 'till the
latter End of July, when the Winds hung so much Southerly,
that we could not get to our Port, but put into Sandyhook-bay, and
went up to New York, after a pinching Voyage, caus'd by our long
Passage. We found at the Watering-Place, a French Man of War, who had
on Board Men and Necessaries to make a Colony, and was intended for the
Messiasippi River, there to settle. The Country of New-York is
very pleasant in Summer, but in the Winter very cold, as all the Northern
Plantations are. Their chief Commodities are Provisions, Bread, Beer,
Lumber, and Fish in abundance; all which are very good, and some Skins and
Furrs are hence exported. The City is govern'd by a Mayor, (as in England)
is seated on an Island, and lies very convenient for Trade and Defence,
having a regular Fort, and well mounted with Guns. The Buildings are
generally of a smaller Sort of Flemish Brick, and of the Dutch
Fashion, (excepting some few Houses:) They are all very firm and good Work,
and conveniently plac'd, as is likewise the Town, which gives a very
pleasant Prospect of the neighbouring Islands and Rivers. A good Part of the
Inhabitants are Dutch, in whose Hands this Colony once was. After a
Fortnight's Stay here, we put out from Sandyhook, and in 14 Days
after, arriv'd at Charles-Town, the Metropolis of South Carolina,
which is scituate in 32, 45 North Latitude, and admits of large Ships
to come over their Bar up to the Town, where is a very commodious Harbour,
about 5 Miles distant from the Inlet, and stands on a Point very convenient
for Trade, being seated between two pleasant and navigable Rivers. The Town
has very regular and fair Streets, in which are good Buildings of Brick and
Wood, and since my coming thence, has had great Additions of beautiful,
large Brick-buildings, besides a strong Fort, and regular Fortifications
made to defend the Town. The Inhabitants, by their wise Management and
Industry, have much improv'd the Country, which is in as thriving
Circumstances at this Time, as any Colony on the Continent of English
America, and is of more Advantage to the Crown of Great Britain,
than any of the other more Northerly Plantations, (Virginia
and Maryland excepted.) This Colony was at first planted by a genteel
Sort of People, that were well acquainted with Trade, and had either Money
or Parts, to make good Use of the Advantages that offer'd, as most of them
have done, by raising themselves to great Estates, and considerable Places
of Trust, and Posts of Honour, in this thriving Settlement. Since the first
Planters, abundance of French and others have gone over, and rais'd
themselves to considerable Fortunes. They are very neat and exact in Packing
and Shipping of their Commodities; which Method has got them so great a
Character Abroad, that they generally come to a good Market with their
Commodities; when oftentimes the Product of other Plantations, are forc'd to
be sold at lower Prices. They have a considerable Trade both to Europe,and to the West Indies, whereby they become rich, and are
supply'd with all Things necessary for Trade, and genteel Living, which
several other Places fall short of. Their co-habiting in a Town, has drawn
to them ingenious People of most Sciences, whereby they have Tutors amongst
them that educate their Youth a-la-mode.

Their Roads, with great Industry, are made very good and pleasant. Near
the Town is built a fair Parsonage-house, with necessary Offices, and the
Minister has a very considerable Allowance from his Parish. There is
likewise a French Church in Town, of the Reform'd Religion, and
several Meeting-houses for dissenting Congregations, who all enjoy at this
day an entire Liberty of their Worship; the Constitution of this Government,
allowing all Parties of well-meaning Christians to enjoy a free Toleration,
and possess the same Priviledges, so long as they appear to behave
themselves peaceably and well: It being the Lords Proprietors Intent, that
the Inhabitants of Carolina should be as free from Oppression, as any
in the Universe; which doubtless they will, if their own Differences amongst
themselves do not occasion the contrary.

They have a well-disciplin'd Militia; their Horse are most
Gentlemen, and well mounted, and the best in America, and may
equalize any in other Parts: Their Officers, both Infantry and Cavalry,
generally appear in scarlet Mountings, and as rich as in most Regiments
belonging to the Crown, which shews the Richness and Grandeur of this
Colony. They are a Fronteer, and prove such troublesome Neighbours to the
Spaniards, that they have once laid their Town of St. Augustine
in Ashes, and drove away their Cattle; besides many Encounters and
Engagements, in which they have defeated them, too tedious to relate here.
What the French got by their Attempt against South Carolina,
will hardly ever be rank'd amongst their Victories; their Admiral
Mouville being glad to leave the Enterprize, and run away, after he had
suffer'd all the Loss and Disgrace he was capable of receiving. They are
absolute Masters over the Indians, and carry so strict a Hand over
such as are within the Circle of their Trade, that none does the least
Injury to any of the English, but he is presently sent for, and
punish'd with Death, or otherwise, according to the Nature of the Fault.
They have an entire Friendship with the neighbouring Indians of
several Nations, which are a very warlike People, ever faithful to the
English, and have prov'd themselves brave and true on all Occasions; and
are a great Help and Strength to this Colony. The Chief of the savage
Nations have heretofore groan'd under the Spanish Yoke, and having
experienc'd their Cruelty, are become such mortal Enemies to that People,
that they never give a Spaniard Quarter; but generally, when they
take any Prisoners, (if the English be not near to prevent it)sculp
them, that is, to take their Hair and Skin of their Heads, which they often
flea away, whilst the Wretch is alive. Notwithstanding the English
have us'd all their Endeavours, yet they could never bring them to leave
this Barbarity to the Spaniards; who, as they alledge, use to murder
them and their Relations, and make Slaves of them to build their Forts and
Towns.

This place is more plentiful in Money, than most, or indeed any of the
Plantations on the Continent; besides, they build a considerable Number of
Vessels of Cedar, and other Wood, with which they trade to Cuirassau,
and the West Indies; from one they bring Money, and from the other
the Produce of their Islands, which yields a necessary Supply of both to the
Colony. Their Stocks of Cattle are incredible, being from one to two
thousand Head in one Man's Possession: These feed in the Savannas,
and other Grounds, and need no Fodder in the Winter. Their Mutton and Veal
is good, and their Pork is not inferior to any in America. As for
Pitch and Tar, none of the Plantations are comparable for affording the vast
Quantities of Naval Stores, as this Place does. There have been heretofore
some Discoveries of rich Mines in the mountanous Part of this Country; but
being remote from the present Settlement, and the Inhabitants not well
vers'd in ordering Minerals, they have been laid aside 'till a more fit
Opportunity happens. There are several noble Rivers, and spacious Tracts of
rich Land in their Lordships Dominions, lying to the Southward, which
are yet uninhabited, besides Port Royal, a rare Harbour and Inlet,
having many Inhabitants thereon, which their Lordships have now made a Port
for Trade. This will be a most advantageous Settlement, lying so
commodiously for Ships coming from the Gulph, and the Richness of the Land,
which is reported to be there. These more Southerly Parts will afford
Oranges, Limons, Limes, and many other Fruits, which the Northerly
Plantations yield not.

The merchants of Carolina are fair, frank Traders. The Gentlemen
seated in the Country, are very courteous, live very nobly in their Houses,
and give very genteel Entertainment to all Strangers and others, that come
to visit them. And since the Produce of South and North Carolina
is the same, unless Silk, which this place produces great Quantities of,
and very good, North Carolina having never made any Tryal thereof as
yet, therefore I shall refer the natural Produce of this Country, to that
Part which treats of North Carolina, whose Productions are much the
same. The Christian Inhabitants of both Colonies pretty equal, but the
Slaves of South Carolina are far more in Number than those in the
North. I shall now proceed to relate my Journey thro' the Country, from
this Settlement to the other, and then treat of the natural History of
Carolina, with other remarkable Circumstances which I have met with,
during my eight Years Abode in that Country.